1 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend. 2 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: Each and every week right here, we come together, we 3 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: talk about all the topics important to you and the 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: place where you live. Happy New Year to you. It's 5 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: great to be back. I'm Nicole Davis. Over the years, 6 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: we've talked here on the show about New Year's resolutions 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: and whether people tend to actually make them or not, 8 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: and if they do, whether they actually stick with it. 9 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: Now I can tell you I don't, But one thing 10 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 1: I do want to do, regardless of the time of year, 11 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: is volunteer more and give back. If that's something you 12 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: have on the brain too, you might find yourself overwhelmed 13 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: with trying to figure out how to do it. You 14 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: have to sign up or find an opportunity in the 15 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,319 Speaker 1: first place. Sick and be a lot to start with, 16 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 1: and Boston Cares says they can help. They are a 17 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: one stop shop for volunteering, so to speak. And later 18 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: on this month, if you want to dip your toe 19 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: into volunteering, they're hosting a family friendly day of service 20 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: honoring doctor Martin Luther King Junior's life and legacy. Sarah 21 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: Hamilton is the executive director of Boston Cares. She's been 22 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: here before and welcome back. Sarah. Tell us a bit 23 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:12,919 Speaker 1: more about your mission and how your process. 24 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: Works as Moisten Cares is a volunteer mobilizer. We partner 25 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 2: with about one hundred and fifty different nonprofits and schools 26 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 2: across greg Or Boston to help them connect with volunteers 27 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: to deliver their services throughout the community. For individuals that 28 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: want to get engaged, we offer a really flexible program. 29 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: You can join Boston Cares and have access to about 30 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 2: three hundred and fifty different opportunities every month, pick and 31 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: choose what fits your availability and your interests, and just 32 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: a way to really connect with organizations that can utilize 33 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 2: your time. 34 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: Well, that's important, I think because a lot of people 35 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: right now we may not have a ton of money, 36 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: but we want to give back. We want to give 37 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: with our time. Have you found a lot of people 38 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:48,639 Speaker 1: joining up lately? 39 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 2: We have. We had record numbers of new volunteers joining 40 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: us in twenty twenty five. I think that people are 41 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: seeing that there's a lot of things going on in 42 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 2: their communities. They want to help. They might not know 43 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 2: how to help or create change in a lot of ways, 44 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: but they know that helping their neighbors is a really 45 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: tangible way to make that connection, connect with their community 46 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: and make a difference for somebody. 47 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 1: Well, this MLK Day of Service is a perfect way 48 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: to do that. And what I really love about this 49 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: there are so many different options of things to do 50 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: to get your hands not necessarily dirty, but get in 51 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: there and really start doing some good. So tell me 52 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: a bit about the MLK Day of Service and why 53 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: this is so important. Over at Boston Cares, we have. 54 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 2: Been celebrating Doctor King's birthday through service since two thousand 55 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 2: and six and it's become a really cornerstone event for 56 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,959 Speaker 2: us throughout the year as a way to kick off 57 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 2: the new year and get people excited about volunteerism, maybe 58 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 2: New Year's resolution getting into service this year, and it's 59 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 2: a way for us to come together as a community 60 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 2: and start the year off right. Think about Doctor King's 61 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 2: message around the beloved community and how important it is 62 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 2: to make those connections and all of us come out together. 63 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: And so our event this year is a weekend long 64 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 2: of activities. So Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we've went virtual 65 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 2: opportunities that you can log on learn about some of 66 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: our nonprofit partners. If you want to learn about what 67 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 2: the Pine Street in does, or an organization called Youth Build, 68 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 2: you can jump on Zoom on Friday. It's a great 69 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:12,799 Speaker 2: way to kind of just spark your interest and learn 70 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 2: about community issues. We've got new volunteer orientations happening all weekend. 71 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: We've opened up some of those projects on our calendar 72 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 2: for folks who are not yet Boston Cares members but 73 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 2: might want to test something out. There's a bunch of 74 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: opportunities they can sign up for, and then we have 75 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 2: our signature event on the Monday Holiday. We'll be over 76 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: at the Boston Latin School from ten am to twelve pm. 77 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: We'll have over three hundred participants with us as young 78 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: as five. We can take all sorts of families and 79 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: young volunteers to join us, and we have several activities 80 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: that'll be going on. We're going to be making Valentines 81 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: for seniors through an organization called Ethos. These are seniors 82 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: who are isolated and getting a special message from a volunteer, 83 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: and if it's not someone that they know, really goes 84 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 2: a long way in that isolation space. We're going to 85 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: be making meals in a jar. We're going to be 86 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 2: assembling sometivity kits, hygiene kits for Victory programs in the 87 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 2: Boston Living Center. We're also going to be making some 88 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: fun decorations for the Pine Street and for their upcoming 89 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: Valentine's Day and Mother's Day celebrations. So the really family 90 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: friendly opportunities, and there are all things that our nonprofit 91 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: partners have specifically requested. 92 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: I love the fact that you've made it family friendly 93 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: because a lot of kids, I mean, this is a 94 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: perfect way to get them involved in volunteering. They've probably 95 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: got the day off from school, so instead of sitting 96 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: in front of the video games or zoning out in 97 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: front of the TV, they can get out there and 98 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 1: learn what service really is about. 99 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely, we really believe in that helping folks start at young, 100 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 2: making it part of your family habits, that giving back 101 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 2: to the community and connecting with others is of value 102 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 2: that you embrace, and MLK Day is a great way 103 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 2: to do that. 104 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: So you mentioned a new member orientation. If somebody is 105 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: listening and they say, oh wow, I want to make 106 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: Valentines for seniors, I want to help out with the 107 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: hygiene kits, but they haven't gone through the orientation if 108 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: they sign up now, is there still time to get 109 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: involved in that? 110 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? So actually I'm Lkday. Everything is open without an 111 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 2: orientation required. Okay, So it's a great way to kind 112 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 2: of start things off. See if you like working with 113 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 2: Boston Cares, and we hope that you do and want 114 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: to continue. So folks can sign up for anything on 115 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 2: our Mlkday events with no orientation required, or they can 116 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 2: also participate in an orientation either virtually over the weekend 117 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 2: or we will have an in person one after the 118 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 2: day of service at Boston Latin School as well, and 119 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: one other plug I want to make for the Boston 120 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: Latin School project. We are also partnering with Katie's Closet 121 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: this year, which is an organization that provides clothing and 122 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 2: basic need basic goods to students in schools, and we 123 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 2: are doing a clothing drive for them. So if you 124 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 2: are coming to volunteer with us, or if maybe you 125 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 2: can't volunteer but you can stop buy, we will have 126 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 2: a truck from Katie's Closet that is accepting new and 127 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: gently used clothing for kids. 128 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: We've had Katie's Closet on the show before they are fantastic. 129 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 1: I love Katie's closet. And yes, again, when you're bringing 130 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: clothes for Katie's closet, nothing that Scott holes in it, 131 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: nothing to kind of you know, rumpled up in the 132 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: back of the drawer. It's you address your own children 133 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:03,799 Speaker 1: or yourself in That's what you have to remember. 134 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 2: Yes, absolutely, I love how their mission they really focus 135 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 2: around providing the clothing so that kids come to school 136 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 2: because they feel like they have the right clothes to 137 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 2: fit in and not stand out, and that makes them 138 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 2: It increases their attendance rates when they feel comfortable showing 139 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 2: up to school for sure. 140 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: So say somebody like you said, comes to this event 141 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: over at Boston Latin School, they get the volunteer bug. 142 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: They kind of want to do it again and often 143 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: as often as they can. Where do they go to 144 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: get involved in that? 145 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: Yep? So our website is kind of the central hub 146 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 2: for all of that. So they if they like MLKDA 147 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 2: and they've not joined us in an orientation yet, we 148 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 2: encourage them to do that. After wish they've got opportunity, 149 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 2: that opportunity to sign up for anything that we have available, 150 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 2: and we have a lot of kind of easy to 151 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: plug into opportunities, so we work with a lot of 152 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 2: food and security organizations. You can serve a meal, pack 153 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 2: a bag at groceries. In the better weather, you can 154 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 2: help clean up a park. We have some tutoring programs, 155 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: especially for adults. We have a great program called Allies 156 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: for Immigrants where we match volunteers who want to help 157 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 2: tutor immigrants in English. We have both virtual and in 158 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: person opportunities for that. I think all that can be 159 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 2: found at Bostoncares dot org. People can explore what they're 160 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 2: interested in, join an orientation, join us at Mlkday, and hopefully, 161 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 2: you know, spark that light that fire a service in 162 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 2: them for the year. 163 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and this is something where you don't just have 164 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: to be an adult. You do have further opportunities for 165 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: young people as well, right. 166 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: We do, Yeah, especially the teens, you know kind of 167 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 2: fourteen enough. There's a good number of opportunities, and you 168 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 2: can search on our site for opportunities based on the 169 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: age of your kids. So if you know that you 170 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 2: want to volunteer with your kids, we do have a 171 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 2: few that are even for the younger ones if parents 172 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: want to bring them out on a weekend. But there 173 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: are some really great search functions on that site where 174 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 2: you can look at the neighborhood, the type of service opportunity, 175 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: the age restrictions, and all that to find the right 176 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: right opportunity for you and your family. 177 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: Besides people power, what do you all need? Do you 178 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: take donations? Do you need stuff you know to help 179 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: make these packs and so on and so forth? What 180 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: can people do if they can't necessarily take their time 181 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: but they have resources to provide? 182 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, we would absolutely love donations. There is about none 183 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 2: about MLK site where you can contribute that way, as 184 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 2: well as to our overall operations. I think sometimes people 185 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 2: look at volunteering and think, oh, well, that's a free thing. 186 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: We have a staff of nine that makes all of 187 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 2: this possible. Throughout the year, our staff and nine helps 188 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 2: make it possible that we give over fifty thousand hours 189 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 2: of service to the Boston community every year. But you 190 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: know they want to be paid for their work too. 191 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 2: We need computers and technology and all the things that 192 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 2: a basic business does too. So remembering that in order 193 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 2: to make service possible, there is a whole team behind 194 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 2: the scenes, and your support to make that possible helps 195 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 2: all of our nonprofit partners as. 196 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: Well, for sure. All right, Sarah, one more time. Website 197 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: social media where can people find you? 198 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 2: So bostoncars dot org and our handle is at Bostoncars 199 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 2: on all the major social media platforms and find information there, 200 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 2: sign up, serve and feel free to reach out if 201 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 2: they've got questions. 202 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for the time and all the 203 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 1: best on your event. Thanks Nicole, I hope you have 204 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: a safe and healthy weekend. Stay warm. Join us again 205 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole 206 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 1: Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.